Background

The issue of youth homelessness in the City of Brandon has grown over the past 5 years. Brandon has a vacancy rate of below 1% at present, therefore individuals & families are under financial pressure and have few housing options.

The city of Brandon experiences a high rate of migration of youth from the surrounding area into the city of Brandon. Often, youth who have limited experience in independent living and no previous tenancy history are viewed as less desirable tenants as they have no financial or other resources to support them in finding affordable housing. Many of these youth have experienced family breakdowns, and even when migration is the right choice, do not succeed because of a lack of support system. Many of the youth in Brandon move to the city to access resources or because of a lack of affordable housing in their home communities. As the homeless and transitory youth population increases in Brandon, so does the demand on services, supports and housing.

As a new community within Mobilizing Local Capacity to End Youth Homelessness, the BNRC wishes to gather data to implement strategic plans that will reduce and end youth homelessness. The BNRC plans to engage community partners to ensure youth homelessness is not only on the public agenda, but partners are actively pursuing solutions. Through this community based research project, the MLC Steering committee in Brandon strives to create a systematic & planned approach to see a measurable reduction in youth homelessness in Brandon.

Duties include:

• Design, conduct and summarize, with recommendations a Youth Homeless Survey, focus group and key informant interview questionnaire.
• Perform and manage data analysis via observation and interview methods using predictive modeling and forecasting.
• Develop queries, quality metrics, and reporting tools for the Brandon Steering Committee
• Develop and document standards for data quality and consistency in reporting
• Reviews reports as needed, to ensure conformance to standards
• Present results and recommendations to Steering Committee
• Share knowledge with other members of the committee, training or mentoring on topics as appropriate
• To meet as required with the MLC to End Youth Homelessness Steering committee and provide monthly updates
• Mentor and manage two student volunteers from Brandon University
• Data gathering in conjunction with student volunteers, including statistics of Brandon
• Assist in making recommendations for the development and implementation of processes to end youth homelessness in Brandon.
• Identification of individuals (through community based research) to be part of a Youth Led Committee and/or join the MLC Steering committee in Brandon
• Data analysis and report writing

Skills & Qualifications

• Post-Secondary Degree in Social Sciences or a combination of education and experience preferred.
• Two to four years community and or youth based experience through volunteer boards or job positions. 
• Project management and people/team management skills, strong communication skills, ability to manage external relationships (client and partners) and ability to deliver to targets.
• Report writing; critical thinking and analysis; creative thinking; problem solving; and decision making; constructive thinking.
• Developing constructive, productive and sustainable relationships with colleagues, collaborators/associates, partners and potential clients; clear and effective communication and delegation skills.
• Demonstrated interest and experience in homelessness, housing, food security, social justice activities and studies.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Excellent computer skills for use in word processing, research, data tracking
• Strong skills using database software such as Access or equivalent
• Familiarity with GIS software and development a definite asset
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently
• Community Based Research and report writing experience an asset

To apply for this position please email n.leadbeater@brandon.ca by September 23rd, 2014 at 4:00PM. For more information, please email or call 204-729-2494.